Electric Vehicle Battery Mounting Structure with Relay Lock

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle battery mounting structures risk damaging electrical contacts during battery replacement, as they often require disconnection while the battery is still interconnected with the vehicle's main body.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle battery mounting structure that uses a relay and lock mechanism to electrically connect and disconnect the battery from the motor, with a solenoid actuation member to secure or release the battery, preventing detachment during electrical connection and allowing detachment during disconnection, thus protecting electrical contacts during replacement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the battery is replaced while electrically interconnected with the vehicle main body, then battery replacement can be performed quickly, but the electrical contact portion may be damaged

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery replacement speedVSAvoidelectrical contact damage
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary electrical disconnection through the relay before mechanical battery removal is attempted. The control unit activates the relay to open the electrical circuit in advance, ensuring that when the battery is physically detached, no electrical contacts are damaged. This preliminary electrical isolation resolves the contradiction by enabling safe quick replacement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The relay acts as an intermediary device between the battery and the vehicle main body electrical system. It provides electrical isolation while allowing the mechanical battery mounting structure to remain in place during the replacement process. This intermediary enables the battery to be electrically disconnected without requiring full mechanical disassembly, thus protecting electrical contacts while maintaining replacement speed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the battery is securely fixed during electrical connection, then electrical safety is improved, but battery replacement operation becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical connection safetyVSAvoidbattery replacement operation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides self-service through automatic control of the relay and lock mechanism by the control unit. When battery replacement is initiated, the system automatically disconnects electrical power and releases the mechanical lock, eliminating the need for manual intervention to ensure electrical safety. This automation maintains high reliability while simplifying the replacement operation for the user.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The electrical connection safety and mechanical fixation are merged into a single integrated system controlled by the control unit. The relay and lock mechanism operate together as a unified safety system, where electrical disconnection and mechanical release are coordinated automatically. This integration ensures safety without requiring separate manual operations, thus maintaining ease of use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Prevents electrical contact damage between the battery and vehicle main body during battery replacement by ensuring the battery is securely fixed or released based on the electrical connection state, facilitating safe and efficient replacement.

Implementation Method 1

an actuation member (75) operating the lock mechanism so as to fix the battery (50) when the relay (70) is electrified, and so as to discontinue the fixture of the battery (50) when the relay (70) is not electrified

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSolenoid: Solenoid

Data Source

PatentEP2516206B1Electric vehicle battery mounting structure
Publication Date: 2020.03.11 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP2516206B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2516206B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2516206B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A vehicle battery mounting structure includes a system main relay (70); a lock pin (61) that fixes the battery to a vehicle main body; an actuation member (75); an auxiliary battery (63) that supplies electric power to the system main relay (70) and the actuation member (75); and a switch (64). The system main relay (70) electrically connects the battery and a motor when the relay is electrified, and electrically disconnects the battery from the motor when the relay is not electrified. The actuation member (75), when the relay is not electrified, causes a lock pin (61) to fix the battery, and when the relay is electrified, causes the lock pin (61) to discontinue fixation of the battery. The switch (64) switches between a state of electrically connecting the auxiliary battery (63) and the system main relay (70), and a state of electrically connecting the auxiliary battery (63) and the actuation member (75).